Mechanical safety hood for molds



Nov. 15, 1955 c. G. CHAMBERS 8 MECHANICAL SAFETY HOOD FOR MOLDS I FiledAug. 2'7, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Caswel/ 6. Chambers INVENTOR.

N 1955 c. G. CHAMBERS MECHANICAL SAFETY HOOD FOR MOLDS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Aug. 27, 1952 603 we 6. Chambers Fig. 2

INVENTOR.

Nov. 15, 1955 c. e. CHAMBERS MECHANICAL SAFETY noon FOR MOLDS 3Sheets-Sheet 3v Filed Aug. 27, 1952 Casual! 6. Chambers INVENTOR.

only w United States Patent MECHANICAL SAFETY HOOD FOR MOLDS Caswell G.Chambers, Maryville, Tenn., assignor of twenty-five per cent to Ralph V.Reed, Maryviile, Tenn.

Application August 27, 1952, Serial No. 306,540

Claims. (Cl. 22-1) This invention relates to a safety hood andparticularly to a hood for covering molds during the casting of aluminumblocks to prevent molten metal from being thrown onto the person of theoperator of the equip ment therearound.

In casting operations, particularly in the casting of aluminum ingots,considerable diflicult y has been encountered because the hot metal whenflowing into the molts frequently finds moisture therein produces steamwhich expands with explosive force to shoot droplets of metal into thevicinity of the mold and is particularly liable to injure the person ofan operator or to cause damage in machinery adjacent to the castingoperation. The present invention provides a mechanical shield forreducing the probabilities of shots and also for shielding the operatorfrom the effects of said shots when they occur. v

The invention is preferably carried out by constructing a lightweightmetal shield of sufficient size to cover a plurality of mold devices andhave a top arranged to protect the operator including a window throughwhich the operator may look to observe the operation. It is alsoprovided with a plurality of blow pipes which may be utilized to blowthe moisture out of the molds immediately before the melted metal ispoured therein to eliminate the probability of shots therein. The rearside of the hood is substantially open and is directed to the usualcasters pit immediately back of the mold platform. The top of the hoodis provided in a curved formation and a curved guide is provided betweenthe ends of the hood at the back portion of the open side so that themoisture discharged by the blow pipes is dc posited in the casters pit.An operators pit is usually provided at the front of the hood and theactual height of various portions of the hood will be determined by thedepth of the operators pit.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an improvedmechanical hood.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a hood for preventingshots from injuring the operator in a casting operation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a hood having meansfor blowing the moisture out of the ingot molds.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a hood which ismechanically controlled for movement into and out of position over theingots.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a hood which can becontrolled by means of valves available in the operators pit.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the presentinvention will be apparent from the following detailed description takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the mechanical safety hood; I

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the safety hood; v Figure 3 is a crosssection through the hood taken substantially on the plane indicated bythe line 3--3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the protective sealabout the blower pipe; and

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the pneumatic system for the hood.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention a plurality of ingot molds10 are provided in a casting platform 12 which is backed up by a casterspit 14 and controlled from an operators pit 16. Molten metal isconducted into the molds 10 by means of a suitable pouring trough 18.The safety hood proper comprises a pair of frame members 20 and 22preferably constructed of structural metal shapes such as channels. Ends24, preferably constructed of sheet metal, are mounted on the frames 20and 22 and are preferably provided with suitable apertures 26 and 28through which the pouring trough 18 may be extended for contact with orpositioning with respect to the molds.

A top 30 preferably constructed of sheet metal or other suitable lightmaterial is mounted between the end frames 20 and 22 with the frontportion sloping downwardly to provide a upper front face 32. The rearportion of the top 30 is preferably curved downward as at 34 to providea guide surface for directing moisture into the pit 14. An arcuate guidemember 36 is provided between the frames 20 and 22 and across a portionof the back wall of the device to provide a guide surface forfacilitating the drawing of moisture from the molds 10 into the pit 14.

A front wall 38 of any suitable height is provided between the loweredge of the sloping face 32 and the top of the platform 12.

The sloping face 32 is provided with a window 42 held in place by meansof angular frames 44. The window 42 may be constructed of any suitabletransparent material such as mica, glass, plastic or any other suitabletransparent material. An elongated opening 46 is provided in the surface32 either above or below the window 42 as may be desired. The elongatedopening 46 is covered by a plurality of plates 48, 5t} and 52 which areretained in suitable guide tracks 54 and 56. Preferably the guide tracks54 and 56 are so dimensioned that the plates 48 and 50 may readily slideover the top of the plate 52 or vice versa so that any portion of theelongated aperture 46 may be opened and the remainder of the aperturecovered by suitable protective plates. Control handles 58 may be appliedon any plates 48, 50 and 52 as may be desired.

For simplicity of illustration a single opening of the type 46 has beenshown but it is obvious that any suitable number of such apertures maybe provided either above or below the window 42 as may be desired or inthe end walls or other locations where it is desirable to introduce atool into the hood. Apertures are particularly useful for introducing ashaking bar into the hood to tap the screens or grates in the pouringtrough 18.

In order to reduce the probability of shots during the casting operationa plurality of blow pipes 60 are extended through apertures such as 62in the curved portion 34-of the top 30. Shield members 64 are'mounted onthe blow pipes 60 and are of suflicient size to cover the apertures 62while the pipes 60 may be adjusted anywhere in the aperture 62.Preferably the apertures 62 for the blow pipes are arranged in alignedrelation and guide members 66 and 68 preferably of angular formation aresecured on the surface of the curved portion 34 and overlie the edges ofthe shield plate 64 so that the shield plate 64 may be individuallyadjusted under the track members 66 and 68 and protect the edges of theapertures so that no metal can be shot through the openings. Anangulated supporting bar 70 is mounted on the end frames and 22, in

spaced relation to the curved surface 34 and a clamping bar 72 issecured thereby by means of bolts and wing nuts 74.so.th1a :the blow;pipes ;.6.0.;may. beradjusted and secured.

in adjusted fixed relation with respect to the shield men bers; so that;they:- will: constantly, maintain their. adjustment therein.throughtheblowpipes by.meansofia.manifold fidhavmg branch conduits 88 tothe various blOW. pipes60; Substantially similar; blow-pipes 90amay bearranged: in the 'forwardportion of the hoodlprcferably. in the frontwall 38 althoughobviously it could-be in the sloping su.r-

face-32. Air is supplied: by. meanstof armanifoldi 92" and.

flexible connections 94. Manifolds,86.and. 92 arepref-1 erablyconnected:together; bya fluid conduit; 96..which' is; supplied froma; main fluidline: 98;thro'ugh' a controlivaive- 1,00,:and a supply; conduit; 102;.The control valve 10.0 is preferably of the;foot;operator; type so thattheoper-aton may, compres s- ,the; control valve 100.- and: admitfluidinto the molds 10; immediately before the metal.- is cast thereinsothat any water; may be blown out of the molds and reduce thelikelihoodoi shots resulting frorn the casting of-themetal. Thelower-ends of the blow pipes 60j,and- 90 are preferably V-shaped; tocausethe proper jet action of the compressed fluid. flowinginto theingots to secure the maximum cleaning action therein.

To properly operate the; hood; member; and lift: it on and'oifof the;casting platform 12to cover or-uncover-theingot molds 10 as may bedesired; a stub post 110 is-fi'rmly fixed 1n, the floor in proximitytooneend of the hood members herein shown as, the. end 24. and astandard.112 is placed onthe; stub post'in pivoted. or oscillating movingrelation thereto so that the standard 112: isrigidly. held in an uprightposition butmay. readily turn or pivot. on the post 110. A laterallyextending boom 114iiS secured adjacent the top of the standard 112.andextends-laterally over the hood. A vertically positioned fluid cylinder116 is rigidly positioned on the boom 114.andhas a piston (not shown)which is reciprocably, controlled in the cylinder 114by-rneans ofopposed air. inlets l'lfiand 120; A piston rod 122.extends from thelower end of the cylinder 116 and is rigidly attached; to a plate 124:which isin turncontrolled but non-rotatably mounted on the pistonrod'122.. Lateral movement of the hood is controlled by means of an arm 14tlrigidly. attachedto the colurnn;112'

and extending laterally therefrom. A.cyli nder 142 is disposed inhorizontal relation adjacent to the standard 112 andpivotallyconnectedby suitable element such ashinge 144: Piston rod 146.,extendsfrom the piston 142 and is pivotally connected to the-arm-140. Thepiston od-146 may be extended-or withdrawn from the cylinder 142 bymeans of the fluid connections148 andlSO. which receive their energyfrom the fluid line 98 through a suitable control valve 152, the upperand lower conduits 120; and- 118 being controlled by the valve 154;

In the operation of the hood according to the invention theoperator-will operate the valve 152. to swing the hood overthe castingplatform 12. after which the valve 154 will be manipulated to lower thehood into contact with the platform andcovering the mold cavities 10.The pouring spout 18 will then be positioned with respect to the moldcavities lttandthe operator will depress the valve to blow moisture outof the mold cavities into the casters pit 14. An operator can observethe operation of the casting operation under the hood through the window42 and if necessary he may open the aperture 46 to. insert a tapping rodor other tool to control the flow of molten metal in the trough 18 or toperform any other Fluid; such. as, compressedvv airis supplied:

operation inthe hood which may be performed by an extension tool. Assoon as the ingots have been cast in the molds 10 the hood then may beremoved from the platform 12 by actuating the valve 154 to lift the hoodout of contact with the platform then by operating the valve 152 toenergize the cylinder 142 to oscillate the standard about the post sothat the hood will be deposited in a position removed from the platformasshown in phantom position in Figure 1. Obviously, any desired numoerof-blow pipes-90 and 60 may be utilized in any desired arrangement tosecure the best scavaging of the moisture from the mold cavities 10.Alsoit is apparent, that the nozzles at the end ofthe blow pipes 60 and90 may be shaped alike or ditferently as may be convenient or as isfound most suitable in expelling the moisture from the molds.

It will thus be apparent that the present invention providesgamechanical safety ho,od:which mayi'bgreadily mounted, on; or,- removed;from. over mold;- cavities and; which may beutilizedz bstan al yuche-numb r.- of shots. .which' occur when molten .metaLis cast into mold:

forms and in the event that shots occur prevent theircontact; with. the;operator: or; adjacent; machinery.

For, purpose of;illu s tratio na;particular embodirnent of theinventionhasbeen shown, anddescribedjaccording to the best;presentunderstanding thereof. It; will be apparent to; those skilled inthe, art that. changes and.

modificationsrcan be 'made-thereinwithout departingfrom the truespiritof the. invention,

Having described, the; invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A- safety hood cflmprisinga top including asloping front; portion;'dlld figCUPVCd Ififll portion, end walls rigidly connected to said topportion, an arcuate guidepositioned at the lower; rear portions of} saidend'walls, said guide being: mounted, onqsaidendj-walls, a,front; Wallextending below. said. sloping front portion, a standard pivotallymountedadjacennone'end of said hood, a fluid,operated device supportingsaid hood from, said standard, a fluid actuatedmca-ns; operative tooscillate said; standard, a transparent section insaid sloping; top:portion, an elongated.- aperture adjacent, said; transparent: section, aplurality of sliding, doorsassociated'withsaid apertures, a plurality.ofwalignediopenings in; said top, ablow pipeextendingthrough each" ofsaid; openings, shield; plates mounted-on each of'saidzpipes, glide.track means. adjacent each side of= saidaligned: openings, said-shieldplates. being received in said guide-trackmeans, a support barmountedin:spacedirelation.totheopenings, clamp means securing saidpipes-.tosaid-har.

2;. In. a safety hood; adapted to. overlie. fixed metal molds, apivotedzvertical standard, a boom fixed.- on an. upper end portion ofsaid standard and-extending; radially therefrom, a vertically andpivotally adjustable hood member supported from saidfboom and includinga.closed sloping frontandaanopenrear back. portion, a fluid motormounted on said boom, a piston vertically reciprocable in said fluidmotor, a piston rod connecting said hood to said,piston,. a guide;operatively connected between said boomandsaid hood for preventingrotation of said hood. with respect to said fluid motor, meansoperatively connected to thepivotedstandard for rotating-.- said hoodinto and out of anoverlying relationship relative to the fixed: molds,and means carried by-said hood for'removing ex.- cessrmoisturein saidmolds.

3. Ina safety hood adapted tooverlie fixed metal molds, a pivotedvertical standard, a boom fixed on an upper end portionofi; saidstandardand extending radially therefrom, a vertically and: pivotallyadjustable: hood member including=aclosedsloping front-and having an:

hood with respect to said fluid motor, a pivot arm fixed on the lowerend portion of said standard, a fluid motor pivotally mounted inproximity to said standard, a piston reciprocable in said pivoted fluidmotor, a connection between said piston and said arm, fluid supplyconduits connected to said cylinders, control means associated with saidconnections for determining the relative position of said hood forpositioning the same relative to the fixed metal molds, a plurality offluid pressure blow pipes mounted on said hood and extending therein,and supply conduits fixed to said fluid pressure blow pipes forexpressing moisture from molds within said hood whereby said moisture isdirected out of the opening in the back of said hood.

4. In a safety hood as set forth in claim 3, wherein a plurality ofspaced fluid pressure blow pipes are supported on said hood and extenddownwardly therein, an arcuate guide plate extending transversely of theopen back portion of said hood and having a curved upper surfaceextending into spaced parallel relation to said blow pipes, said arcuateguide plate in excluding moisture blown from the molds in said hood.

5. In a safety hood comprising a top including a sloping front portionand a curved rear portion, end walls rigidly connected to said topportion, an arcuate guide positioned between the lower rear portions ofsaid end walls and extending in spaced relation to said curved topportion pro- 6 vide a rearwardly open guide, said guide being mountedand extending between said end walls, a front wall extending below thesloping front portion of said hood, 2. vertically extending standardpivotally mounted adjacent one end of said hood, a fluid operated motorsupporting said hood on said standard, a second fluid motor for rotatingsaid standard, an elongated aperture in said hood, a fluid pressure blowpipe extending through said aperture, and an elongated shield mounted onsaid fluid pressure blow pipe, guide members including overlying edgesextending transversely of said hood, said shield being reciprocablysupported within the overlying edges of said guide members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

